WEEK OF MARCH 13, 2025
VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 37
FREE
‘Eras Gala’ gives chamber at 100 some ‘Swiftie’ glam
LUNAR OUTPOST’S MOON MISSION GOES SIDEWAYS STATE SENATE APPROVES ‘BUY COLORADO DAY’
Community celebrates history, looks toward the future BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
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FINDING PIECES OF IRELAND IN THE METRO P10 AREA
SPACECRAFT CARRYING MAPP ROVER LANDS ON ITS SIDE, PREVENTING DEPLOYMENT The Athena spacecraft carrying the MAPP rover approaching the moon. COURTESY OF LUNAR OUTPOST BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
SHAUN WHITE TALKS WINTER SPORTS, NEXT GENERATIONS P18
2025
VOTING STARTS
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Arvada-based company Lunar Outpost’s attempt at making history by landing the first-ever commercial rover on the moon hit a snag upon arrival, as the spacecraft carrying the rover landed on its side, making it impossible for the rover to be deployed. Lunar Outpost’s MAPP rover was carried by Intuitive Machine’s Athena Spacecraft, which landed about 5 degrees from the Lunar South Pole on March 6 after launching on the SpaceX Falcon 9 on Feb. 26. After the touchdown, however, there were some technical challenges. Caroline Cammarano, a member of Lunar Outpost’s communication’s team, said that although the rover survived the journey to the moon, it was unable to drive on the lunar surface due to the Athena’s landing orientation. “Our Lunar Voyage 1 MAPP rover successfully made it to the Moon, collected data from the lunar surface and in transit, and proved MAPP was ready to drive!” Cammarano said. “Intuitive Machines landing on its side prevented MAPP’s deployment. “Our data paints a clear picture that MAPP sur-
vived the landing attempt and would have driven on the lunar surface and achieved our mission objectives had it been given the opportunity,” Cammarano continued. Teams are able to communicate with the machine, said Steve Altemus, CEO of Intuitive Machines, which provided the Athena spacecraft. “We’ll just have to do the reconstruction and figure out exactly what is the attitude and location, and then we will get on with the rest of the mission,” he said at a NASA press conference. During the press conference, Altemus said he believes that the machine is in the vicinity of the landing site. They are waiting for pictures from above, which will come in the next couple of days, to confirm their exact location. The mission that could have been
Had the landing gone a bit more smoothly, the rover would have set out to complete a slew of firsts, including facilitating the (largely symbolic) first sale of space resources in human history, a $1 sale of lunar regolith — dust, soil and rock that covers the moon’s surface — to NASA.
The Greater Arvada Chamber of Commerce held a birthday party of sorts, as the organization celebrated its centennial anniversary with its 100th Annual Dinner, which featured a Taylor Swift theme this year. “The Eras Gala” was held on Feb. 28 at Social Capitol Events. The Taylor Swift theme was incorporated through violin renditions of Swift’s classic songs performed by Sarah Hubbard of the local band Flobots, passing out individualized friendship bracelets and incorporating the history — or “eras” — of the chamber in a large timeline poster that outlined major chamber milestones over the years. “We are so proud of the rich history of this organization and community and it meant the world to be able to celebrate with 400 of our closest friends and supporters,” the chamber’s Vice President of Member Services, Samantha Geerdes, said about the sold-out event. “We will continue to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the Greater Arvada Chamber of Commerce,” Geerdes continued, “so stay tuned for more!” Geerdes also said the event’s silent and live auctions raised over $30,000 for the organization — funds it will put towards workforce development, advocacy and business leadership. In addition to the chamber looking back at its history, it recognized its 2024 awardwinners in a few major categories. Balefire Goods — which relocated from one Olde Town unit to another last year — was named Business
SEE OUTPOST, P6 SEE GALA, P9
VOICES: 8 | LIFE: 10 | CALENDAR: 13 | SPORTS: 18
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